Priming device



Nov. 18, 1930. a WMSE 1,781,890

PRIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1, 1927 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE SUMNER WILTSE, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WILTSF APPLIANCE COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN PRIMING DEVICE Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial'N'o. 216,827.

This invention relates to means for priming pumps and relates particularly to means for priming mechanical fuel pumps such as are commonly used in connection with internal combustion engines, the principal object being the provision of a simple and economical priming device for pumps of the type described.

Another object is to provide, in combina: tion with an internal combustion engine, a passage between the carbureter float bowl and the intake manifiold, means being pro-- vided for cutting off the suction imposed by the manifold on the float chamber through the passage.

A further object is to provide, in combination with an internal combustion engine provided with a mechanically' actuated fuel pump, a carbureter provided with an air tight bowl into which the pump is adapted to discharge fuel, a passage being provided connecting the interior of the carbureter bowl with the intake manifold above the throttle and a valve being positioned within the passage land operable'to transmit the suction within the intake manifold to the carburetcr bowl and thence to the fuel pump, and also operable to close the passage to the intake manifold and open the passage tothe air whereby atmospheric pressure will be transmitted to the carbureter bowl.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of thepresent invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side view of an internal'combustion engine positioned below the hood of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken centrally through the carbureter shown on the engine in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a face view of the valve mecha-.

nism shown mounted on the instrument board 1n F g. 1 and connected in the piping between the carbureter and intake manifold:

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the valve mechanism taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the back member employed in the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a face view of the rotatable member employed in the valve construction of" Fig. 4.

When mechanically driven fuel pumps are employed for conducting fuel to the carbureters, of internal combustion engines, particularly when the carbureter and the pump are positioned above the level of the fuel in the fuel supply tank as is the usual case in motor vehicle constructions, the fuel in the lines from the carbureter to the fuel supply tank often drains back into the fuel supply tank upon stopping of the engine and leaves such passage filled with air. Unless'the pump in such case is not worn or unless some precautions are taken to prevent the fuel from flowing back to the supply tank, it is often difficult and sometimes impossible for the pump to regain its prime without some aid. Although the pump might often regain its prime after running the engine for several minutes with the electric starter, such practice is not only pump loses its prime, the same may be reestablished in a quick and effective manner.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in order to better illustrate the present inven tion, I show in Fig.1 an internal combustion engine designated generally as 10 positioned below the hood 11' of a motor vehicle andv substantially in front of the dash 12 thereof. The engine 10 is provided with a conventional intake manifold 13 and carbureter designated generally in Fig. 1 as 14.. A mei chanicallydriven fuel pump 15 provided with a pair of intermeshing spur gears 16 and suitably driven from the cam shaft of the .rotative positions.

engine 10 or by some suitable means is connected by the tubin 17 with a fuel supply leakage of air. A'fioat valve 24 secured to the arm 25 which in turn ispivotally mounted at 26 to the under side of the cover 23 operates the needle valve 27 to close the passage 28 against the flow of fuel from the pump 15 through the tube orpipe 29. A second tube or pipe 30 is connected by the connection 31 and opening 32 in the cover 23 to the interior of the float bowl 18. The tube 30 extends from the bowl 18 through the dash 12 and to the valve mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 33 in Fig. 1 which is mounted on the instrument board 34 of the vehicle. A third tube 35 connects the valve mechanism 33 with the intake inanifold 13.

The-valve mechanism as indicated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive comprises a casing 36 within which is received a disc 37, a disc-like rotor 38, and a back plate 39. A handle 40 is provided with a shank 41, the latter rotatably projecting through the face of the casing 36 and through the disc 37, and its squared portion 42 being received within the corresponding squared opening 43 in the rotor 38. The squaredpo'rtion 42 terminates in -a stud 43 which is received within theenlarged central opening 44 in the back plate 39 and receives thereon the nut 45 which secures the handle 40 in place. An open cap 46 is threadably received on the rear of the casing 36 and is provided with a resilient gasket 47 between the same and the back plate 38 which serves to clamp all of the members in operative position and preventsrot-ation of the back plate 39. The back plate 39 as shown in Fig. 5 is provided with three openings 48, 49 and 50 disposed about the center thereof in spaced relationship. The rotor 38, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided with a curved slot 51, the center of which is distances from the center of the rotor 38 an amount corresponding with the distance of the openings 48, 49 and 50 from the center of the back plate 39 so as to match the same when turned to the proper The slot 51 is of a length sulhcien't to extend between the openings 48 and 49, or 49 and 50 when turned to the proper rotative positions. The tube 30 from the carburetor is connected by the connection 52 to the opening'49, and the opening 48 is connected by the connection 53 and by the tube 35 to the intake manifold 13. The opening 50 communicates at the rear of the back plate 39 directly with the atmosphere, or a connection 54 may be provided for the same for vconnection to a tube or pipe 55 which may be extended down and connected to the carbureter at a point adjacent the air inlet thereof so that in cases where the handle 40 is turned to block the tube 35 any fuel vapors tending to pass off from the fuel within the carbureter bowl 18 through the pipe or tube 30 will be lead back through the tube 55 and be discharged into the interior of the carbureter and will be drawn into the engine cylinders and burned. Thetube 55 is preferably connected to the carbureter in such a manner that the suction within the same has little or no effect on reducing the pressure. within the carburetor bowl and yet 1s placed in such a manner that any .fuel vapors passing out 01' and 35 are thus connected together so that any suction in the intake manifold 13 is transmitted to the interior of the bowl 18, and when the handle40 is turned to move the.

slot so as to connect the o enings ,49 and 50, it will be apparent that the opening 48 and consequently the tube 35 is closed against the passage of air and the interior of the bowl 18 is communicated with the atmosphere through the tube 30 the opening 49, slot 51 and opening 50 where no tube 55 is employed,

and through the tube 55 when the same is em loyed.

n practice when itis foundthat the pump 15 has lost its prime, the handle 40 is moved to bring the slot 51 over the openings 48 and 49, the electric starter is then operated causing the engine to revolve thus creating a suction in the intakemanifold 13 and this suction is transmitted through the pipe 35.

opening 48, slot 51, opening 49, and pipe 30 to the interior of the carbureter bowl 31, and from the carbureter bowl 31 through the opening 28 and tube '29 to the pump 15 and thence through the tube 17 to the source of fuel supply. The suction in the intake manifold is therefore transmitted to the fuel supply tank and-tends to suck the fuel into the ump 15. As soon as the fuel is thus sucked into the pump 15, the ump is again primed and begins to pump el and at such time the handle 40 ma be swung around so as to connect the openings 49 and 50 by the slot 51, thereby admitting air under atmospheric pressure to the interior of the carbureter bowl 18 and closin the pipe 35. Should the float 24 of the car ureter bowl at the time the engine is started besufficiently high to revent the suction within the bowl 18 from eing transmitted to the pump 15 past the needle valve 27, if the pump has lost its prime at such time, the level of fuel within the bowl 18 will quickly drop upon starting of the engme sufficiently tounseat the needle 27 and therefore break its seal. It is important when the carbureter bowl 18 is sealed against leakage of air thatsome means be provided, as in the present case, for the introduction of air under atmospheric pressure to the carbureter bowl in order that it may function properly, and although I have provided a construction in the present invention wherein the carbureter bowl is sealed at the. bowl itself against the introduction of air, it will be apparent that the usual vent may be provided in the same and the pipes 30 and be made of sufiicient size so as to suck the air out of the bowl 18 at a greater rate than the vent is capable of supplying the same, thereby creating a sufficient suction in the bowl 18 which may be transmitted throughothe pipes 29 and 17 to suck the fuel from the supply tank into the pump, and in such a case it is only necessary to provide a' simple shut-off cock between the pipes'30 and 35, but prefer to use the construction indicated inasmuch as I am able to obtain the greater suction on the fuel and therefore a quicker priming action on the pump 15.

'Although I have shown a particular form of valve between the tubes 30 and 35, it is to be understood that the valve shown is merely for the purpose of illustration and that any suitable valve mechanism may be employed at this point, and it will also be understood that the extending of the valve itself to the instrument board 34 of the ve-.

hicle is merely a matter of convenience, and

it may be positioned between a pair of short pipes extending directly between the carbureter bowl 18 and the intake manifold 30 and may be operated, if desired, by a r odor other device extending from. the instrument board 34 to such valve, and these and other formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described with out departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention. the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claimis:

1. In combination with an internal combustioniengine having an intake manifold, a carbureter connected thereto, and a mechanically driven pump for delivering fuel to said carbureter, means for priming said pump comprising a passage exterior to said carbureter between the float bowl thereof and said intake manifold, and means in said passage for closing the same.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a carbureter provided with a'float bowl, a throttle valve for said carbureter, mechanical means for supplying fuel to-said float bowl, a passage connecting said bowl above the normal fuel level therein with the intake manifold above said throttle valve, and valvular means in said passage for'closing or opening the same.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a carbureter provided with an air tight bowl, a throttle valve forsaid carbureter, mechanical means for elevating fuel to said carbureter, a passage connecting said bowl above the normal fuel level therein with the intake manifold between said throttle valve in the engine cylinders, valvular means in said passage for closing or opening the same, and means for admitting air under atmospheric pressure to said bowl;

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an'intake manifold and a carbureter provided'with an air tight float bowl, mechanical fuel supplying means connected with said float bowl for supplying fuel thereto, valvular means, an air passage connecting said float bowl with said valvular means, and anair passage connecting said intake manifold with said valvular means,

. said valvular means being operable to connect said passages when in one position and operable to shut off the last mentioned passage and opening the first mentioned passage to the "atmosphere when in another position.

5. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the internal combustion engine thereof having an intake manifold and a carbureter con nected thereto, a pump for supplying fuel to said carbureter, an air passageway, connecting'the float bowl of said carbureter with said i'ntake manifold, and valvular means in said passageway for opening or closing the same manually operable from the instrument panel of said vehicle.

6. In a motor'vehicle, in combination with the engine and instrument panel thereof, an intake manifold, a carbureter connected thereto, a mechanically driven fuel pump for discharging fuel into the float bowl of said carbureter, and means for priming said pump comprising valvular means supported from said instrument'panel, a'pipe connecting the bowl of said carbureter with said means, and a pipe connecting said-intake manifold withv said means, said means being operable to connect said pipes or to shut one off from the other thereof.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine havin an intake manifold and a carbureter provided with an air-tight float bowl, a pump for supplying fuel to said float bowl, valvular. means, an air passage connecting said float bowl with the said valvular means, an air'passage connecting said intake manifold with said valvular means, saidvalvular means being operable to connect said passages when in one position and .air inlet of sai carbureter.-

operable to shut off the'last mentioned pasi 8. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the engine and instrument panel thereof, a mechanically driven fuel pump for discharg-' ing fuel into the float bowl of said carbureter, and means for priming said pump comprising valvular means supported from said. instrument panel, a pipe connecting the bowl of said carburetor with said means, a pipe connecting said intake manifold with said means, and a pipe connecting said means with a point adjacent the air inlet of saidcarbureter, said means being manually operable at willto connect said pipes in pairs.

SUMNER WILTSE. 

